Stop wasting your money on tech in 2014

Mother and son looking at phone at family dinner (Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

Now that 2014 is here I'm going to address a nagging feeling I have – that feeling that I'm leaking lots of money here and there on my family's tech gadgets and services. You too?

With different family members on different devices it's easy to let things get out of hand. Now is a great time to take stock of all your monthly expenditures and see if you're wasting money – or minutes – and where you could tighten up and save a little ... or a lot.

The first step may be the hardest. If you haven't already, gather together all your bills (whether paper or electronic) and find out how much you're spending on what each month. Read through your plans and find out exactly what you're paying for. For example, how much are you paying for that unlimited data plan or those voice minutes?

Once you've got the lay of the land you can tackle each sector one by one. Paying a lot for cellphone service? Websites like SaveLoveGive will check for wasted minutes and data charges and help you streamline costs. (SaveLoveGive will also give you the opportunity to donate those unused minutes.) All you have to do is plug in your phone number. While you're checking, look for extra charges for little things like calling 411. Some companies offer discounts for their employees — it's worth asking around to find out if your employer does.

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Switching to a no-contract plan can sometimes save you money. And of course, you can call up your provider and threaten to leave. It's not a fail-safe strategy, but it's worked for many customers.

If you've got kids with phones, consider using a pre-paid plan, especially if that phone is just for emergencies. There's also Skype (which has free options and pre-paid plans) and Google Hangouts, if they're usually someplace with wireless access.

Moving on to cable and wireless, it may be time to cut back just a little. If you've got high-speed Internet, do you really need cable TV, too? With all the streaming services out there, you might be surprised. Here's how replace cable with Internet TV. You can also try broadcast basic services, which is like cable “lite” – fewer channels at a fraction of the standard cable price. If you're renting equipment (like your router, modem or DVR), consider buying used equipment instead. It's an up-front investment that could eventually save you $10 to $20 a month.

Bundling services typically saves you money, but don't just take the first plan offered. Find out if there are less-expensive configurations more tailored to your actual needs and usage. Check every few months to see if your providers are offering new plans. For example, AT&T just announced a “sponsored data” plan that offers new data use options to its customers.

Finally, take a look at your subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes and Hulu+. Is there any duplication? It's easy to collect subscriptions and let those monthly charges creep up. True, renting video games on GameFly and books on Oyster could save you money if you're a high-volume user, but now is a good time to take stock of what you're actually using. Trimming even just one subscription could make a difference.

There, that wasn't too painful, was it? Shaking out a few unnecessary costs is a great way to start your new year. Once you trim your bills you can think about saving for something fun your family will truly enjoy, like a vacation – away from the TV, Internet and phones.

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